“As far as the colonial-capitalist project was – and is – concerned, Indigenous peoples are primarily viewed and treated as physical obstacles standing in the way of resource capital – rather than a source of exploitable labour, they are obstacles to be removed through violence, assimilation, criminalization, and other genocidal measures. […] The overwhelming majority of wealth extracted from the Earth remains controlled by the settler population.”

I feel like it’s so important for white Australians to like learn about pre colonial Australia. Like esp those of us who’s family’s have been here for generations and we were born on indigenous land like we need to learn about the people who’s land we were born on ??? Idk like it’s just so important that white Australians learn about indigenous Australia and that aspect of our heritage as Australians bc like Australia has such a rich and amazing history pre colonisation and I just wish that school gave us more opportunities to learn about it

The signs are man-made specks in an ocean of nature but are harbingers of a battle to come. It is a fight between the Munduruku, who have long sanctified this river, and Brazil’s government, which plans to flood much of this land to build a $9.9 billion hydroelectric dam, the São Luiz do Tapajós. The dam is one of seven planned for this river and part of a wider strategy across the Amazon that the energy ministry says is necessary to sate the country’s growing need for power. But the Munduruku say they have a constitutional right to remain on their territory — and that the government is refusing to acknowledge it, in violation of the law. […]

“We will fight to the end,” said Juarez Saw Munduruku. “This is our struggle. … I would die defending my land so that another generation can live here.”

On Monday, Divergent actress Shailene Woodley was arrested in North Dakota where she was participating in a peaceful protest of the Dakota Access Pipeline. While Woodley certainly brought new attention to the protest, her arrest overshadows the cause and the horrendous way protesters have been treated.

A disastrous spate of oil spills in the Peruvian Amazon have gone from bad to worse in recent days, leaving Indigenous nations frantically trying to clean up the mess left by the nation’s state-owned oil company.

The catastrophic ruptures in Petroperu’s Northern Peruvian Pipeline occurred on January 25th and February 3rd and have threatened the water supply of nearly 10,000 Indigenous people, says Amazon Watch.

On Monday, Petroperu officials confirmed to Reuters that the oil has poured into two critical Amazon River tributaries that eight Achuar communities depend on for water. According to the news agency, these two tributaries of the Amazon River, the Chiriaco and Morona rivers, are now filled with 3,000 barrels of oil.

Critics charge that the spills continued to spread and caused far worse damage after the responsible company, Petroperu, failed to act to contain the oil released by the pipeline breakages.

A third pipeline rupture was rumored on February 19, reports Amazon Watch, but the state-owned petroleum company took to Twitter to deny those reports.

Petroperu president German Velasquez “denied reports the company paid children to clean up the oil,” reports the Guardian, but then he went on, perhaps damningly, to say that “he was evaluating firing four officials, including one who may have allowed children to collect the crude.”

“It’s important to note that the spills…are not isolated cases. Similar emergencies have emerged as a result of defects in sections of the pipeline,” the national environmental regulator said, according to the Guardian.

The regulator “ordered Petroperu to replace parts of the pipeline and improve maintenance,” states Reuters. The Guardian reports that Petroperu will face fines of up to $17 million if it is proven that the oil spills have affected the health of locals.

“This environmental disaster is just the latest in a long history of oil and gas leaks in the area,” laments Indigenous rights group Survival International, observing that “[m]ore” than 70% of the Peruvian Amazon has been leased by the government to oil companies.“

The group translates a call to action by AIDESEP, an organization that fights for Indigenous people in the Peruvian Amazon, in which it pleads for “international public opinion, the media, NGOs and civil society to pay attention to this serious event that puts in danger the lives of thousands of people living in the area who have traditionally been neglected.”

Indigenous cinema, at least in its contemporary form, is only 40 years old, and the fact that there are films to be left off a list like this is testament to its rapid development and to the artists who have taken up the camera to tell their stories.

Here are 10 amazing films that are a great starting point for a journey into indigenous cinema history.

1. Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner, 2001 (Canada)

The first Inuktitut language feature is also the most important film in Canadian history, bringing epic film making to a Northern legend. It won Official Selection at the 2001 Cannes International Film Festival, and remains the highest grossing indigenous film in Canadian history.

These two activist documentaries were often paired on the festival circuit and are among the most important films in contemporary indigenous cinema. Directors Merata Mita and Alanis Obomsawin seemingly willed indigenous cinema into life with these two endlessly fascinating historical documents.

3. Bedevil, 1993 (Australia)

Tracey Moffat’s dreamscape/ghost story began indigenous cinema’s move away from traditional cinematic narrative structures and remains an under seen masterpiece.

4. The Dead Lands, 2014 (New Zealand)

5. Four Sheets to the Wind, 2007 (U.S)

Sterlin Harjo’s gripping feature is a descendant of Smoke Signals, portraying contemporary Indigenous life with an unflinching eye and open heart. It won a Special Jury Prize at Sundance for Tamara Podemski’s remarkable performance.

6. Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance, 1993 (Canada)

Alanis Obomsawin’s documentary epic chronicles the Oka Crisis in Quebec and helped shift the dialogue around Indigenous issues in Canada and globally. It was the first documentary to ever win the Best Canadian Feature award at the Toronto International Film Festival.

7. Once Were Warriors, 1994 (New Zealand)

Lee Tamahori’s ferocious and exhilarating portrait of an urban Maori family was the first indigenous feature to have a truly global presence. Among the highest grossing films in New Zealand history.

8. Rhymes for Young Ghouls, 2013 (Canada)

Jeff Barnaby’s debut feature brings the anger to indigenous cinema, a clarion call for both the cinematic community and the indigenous community. A director to watch for years to come.

9. Samson and Delilah, 2009 (Australia)

Warwick Thornton’s Camera D’or winner is a searing depiction of modern life in Australia and a marvel of naturalism and restrained storytelling.

10. Smoke Signals, 1998 (U.S)

Chris Eyre’s road movie based on Sherman Alexie’s screenplay is a touchstone for indigenous cinema, bringing humour to a story of contemporary Indigenous life. Also features the core of young performers such as Adam Beach, Michelle St. John, Irene Bedard and Gary Farmer who would go on to star in numerous other films in the ensuing years.

Hundreds of Native American protesters temporarily stopped construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Nearly 400 protesters gathered to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline, a $3.8-billion system that, if completed, would stretch across North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Illinois — rivaling the length of the rejected Keystone XL Pipeline. So far, 16 members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe have been arrested, including the tribe’s leader, David Archambault II.

On Wednesday, Archambault contacted the White House and met with North Dakota senators to try to get construction halted on the 1,172-mile behemoth. While the pipeline doesn’t cut through any federally reserved indigenous land, it will hurt the tribes in numerous ways.

“Now is the time to stand beside Indigenous people in support of our timeless struggle to defend Mother Earth. There is a battle being waged across the globe by Indigenous Peoples and their allies demanding a safe, healthy world for future generations. This is about water versus oil and life versus death, and ultimately, survival versus extinction.”

On #InternationalWomensDay women from 7 different Amazonian Indigenous Nations began a march in Ecuador against new oil blocks in the rainforest. They call on their government and the international community to respect their rights:

“We stand for our families, our planet, and the rights of nature!” “They want to criminalize me for defending my territory.”“Don’t threaten the rights of Indigenous women, uncontacted peoples, and activists!”“We women are at the front, demanding that they respect our Indigenous rights, our territory, and our rainforest.”

At the very same time, Chinese oil company Andes Petroleum began to enter the Sápara territory in violation of their rights. Sápara representatives are now delivering a formal protest letter in response to this illegal entry onto their lands.

Following a growing trend, the city council of Albuquerque, New
Mexico has voted six to three to recognize October 12th – typically
known to most as “Columbus Day” within the USA– as Indigenous Peoples’
day in a new proclamation. Albuquerque has the highest concentration of Indigenous people in New Mexico.

In the past two months, eight cities got rid of Columbus Day in favor
of adopting Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Three of those cities adopted
Indigenous Peoples’ Day this week.

Albuquerque, New Mexico
– The city’s formal declaration”encourages businesses, organizations
and public entities to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day, which shall be
used to reflect upon the ongoing struggles of Indigenous people on this
land, and to celebrate the thriving culture and value that our
Indigenous nations add to our City.”

Lawrence, KS – Since
September, students from Haskell University in Lawrence, Kansas have
been taking initiative and pushing for the city to honor their ancestors
by declaring October 12th Indigenous Peoples’ day. Just this Wednesday,
they won.

Portland, OR – Portland’s City Council declared Indigenous Peoples’ day on Tuesday, something tribal leaders have been seeking since 1954.

St. Paul, MN – In
August, St. Paul followed Minneapolis by declaring Indigenous Peoples’
Day instead of Columbus Day. Minneapolis passed its own resolution last
year.

Bexar County, TX – The resolution was passed Tuesday, and local activists intend to press for the same thing in San Antonio.

Olympia, WA – Mayor
Pro Tem Nathaniel Jones presented Olympia’s proclamation at a rally in
August. Nearly 150 people showed up to support the initiative.

Alpena, MI – In
September, Mayor Matt Waligora declared Indigenous Peoples’ Day. The
city says they desire “to develop a strong and productive relationship
with all indigenous peoples, including the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe, based
on mutual respect and trust.”

These cities are following in the footsteps of Seattle and Minneapolis. Meanwhile, Oklahoma City came close to passing it in September and will try to pass it again on October 13th, the day after the holiday.

City Council Member Rey Garduño wrote and proposed the proclamation, with guidance from local activists. The campaign was initiated last year during an “Abolish Columbus Day” demonstration at City Hall.

Although these changes have been quite recent, the struggle for the
recognition of Indigenous Peoples Day has been going on since 1954, when
the idea was first proposed in Portland, OR.

The Albuquerque Police Department have a notorious record of
harassing and killing oppressed people. Their law enforcement divisions
have shot 50 people resulting in 28 fatalities since 2010. In Albuquerque, Indigenous people compose 4.6 of the city’s population, but 13% of its consistently homeless population.

This name change is a fantastic trend that needs to grow fast, but it
needs to be followed up by concrete action and legislation. Nationwide
(and worldwide – particularly in Latin American countries that have
suffered from US-backed coups), Indigenous people suffer from economic
inequality, health problems, and human rights abuses. It’s time we
celebrate their culture and tradition rather than their oppressors’, and
it’s time we give back to those we’ve taken so much from.

Im convinced that the idolization of colonizers contributes to ongoing dispossession and erasure of Indigenous peoples. When looking at the response to the Bundy Acquittal in comparison to #NoDAPL its concluded that the difference in the justification is in the fact that the general American Public sees Natives as a thing of the past. Its the assumption that genocide has been concluded and therefore further acts of settler colonialism are justified. I believe part of that could be combated by smaller acts of decolonization such as mentioned above. Changing names to honor original Indigenous associations, dismantling colonizer monuments and holidays. Anything to change the popular consciousness of the American people to recognize Indigenous peoples and to stop erasing us.

Indigenous leadership of Tohono O’odham Nation in southern Arizona said they won’t support a border wall project on their land. Part of their reservation extends into Mexico and covers 75 miles of the international border.

The chairman and vice chair said the plan was always to try to work with whoever holds the office of the United States President. But, they added, it’s still too early to tell exactly how Donald Trump’s administration will impact the Tohono O'odham.

Vice Chairman Verlon Jose explained Indigenous members have traversed their ancestral land since time immemorial, and a wall of any sort would not be supported by the community.

“Over my dead body will a wall be built,” Jose said, describing some community members’ sentiments. “I don’t wish to die but I do wish to work together with people so we can truly protect the homeland of this place they call the United States of America. Not only for our people but for the American people.”

Jose said he invites president elect Trump to come down to the reservation to see why a physical wall, in his opinion, would not be a good idea for the Nation or the country.

[IMAGE:
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced the approval of 2 major pipelines – Kinder Morgan and Line 3. These pipelines could have a devastating impact on the climate. But make no mistake, people power will stop pipelines.]